[Humanpowered] BC Ferries loses another $5.5 million; targets cyclists to recoup loses

[Stephan Wehner]

Hey Dave,

what I found extremely odd about BS Ferries is that they are "getting
into the Tourism business", meaning you can book vacations with them:

 http://www.bcferriesvacations.com/

I don't know if regular tourism businesses are complaining about this
or not. It looks very fishy to me.

Hope you're well!

Stephan


On Sat, Sep 3, 2011 at 11:52 PM, dave olsen <bike at resist.ca> wrote:
> A press release issued by BC Ferries on August 24, 2011 states that it lost
> another $5.5 million during April, May and June of this year.
>
> It also confirms the devastating decisions they have recently made without
> public consultation: spending half a billion dollars on 3 giant new car
> ferries made in Germany while vehicle traffic reached an eleven year low.
>
> In an effort to recoup these losses, BC Ferries recently sent 3 security
> people and a trained German Shepard after a cyclist to ban him for not
> paying $2 for his bicycle.  The only other ways to cross the Salish Sea are
> airplane or private boat.
>
> After the cyclist explained that BC Ferries own Experience Card allows
> cyclists to travel without paying the $2 bicycle fare, the Terminal Manager
> lifted the ban.
>
> However, the security personnel stressed that any cyclist who does not pay
> the $2 for their bicycle, even if BC Ferries staff sells them a ticket, are
> considered criminals and will be banned immediately.
>
> BC Ferries press release did not comment on whether bicycle traffic
> increased or decreased in the last quarter, nor did it comment how customer
> service practices affected revenues.
>
> President and CEO David L. Hahn did state that cutbacks will result from
> this loss, but the salaries and bonuses received by BC Ferries Executives
> will not be reduced.  The press release did not mention that David Hahn's
> annual compensation, when added with the other members of the Executive's,
> exceed the loss in the past quarter.
>
> The press release stated that steep discounts for motorized vehicles and
> their drivers during peak travel periods in June did not increase revenues.
>
> However, no mention was made of how a passenger only service would
> dramatically reduce costs (it currently costs $2,000 in fuel for one of the
> Giant new ferries to make a crossing of the Salish Sea) while simultaneously
> increasing service.
>
> The press release also contains financial information that shows that BC
> Ferries has accumulated a $1.3 billion debt in the past 8 years; a previous
> press release stated that prior to the hiring of David Hahn as President and
> CEO, BC Ferries was debt free after the Provincial Government wrote off $1.1
> billion in debt that was accumulated over more than 40 years.
>
> For more information, please visit:
> https://www.bcferries.com/bcferries/faces/attachments?id=528847
> https://www.bcferries.com/bcferries/faces/attachments?id=477419
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_Ferry_Scandal
>
> Take care and if you can't take the lane, take the bus!
> dave
>
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-- 
Stephan Wehner
The Buckmaster Institute, Inc.
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Canada
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